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School food authorities must balance costs of producing school meals and revenues from several sources.

by Saied Toossi and Jessica E. Todd
6/12/2025

Child Nutrition Programs

Comparison chart showing total cost of producing school meals against revenues, balanced by the school food authority.

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The USDA’s National School Lunch Program provides Federal funding and support for nutritious school meals. Local-level programs are implemented and monitored by State agencies, while school food authorities try to balance the costs.

School food authorities must balance costs of producing school meals and revenues from several sources.

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